Rig for oil-wells.



F. W. PENNBLL.

RIG POR OIL WELLS.

APPLICATION FILED 00T. 26.1904.

No. 807,861. 4 PATENTED DEC. 19, 1905.

W if 11 il! No. 807,861. PATENTED DBG. 19, 1905. P. W. PBNNBLL.

RIG FOR OIL WELLS.

APPLICATION FILED 00T. 26.1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Il A

' UNITED STATES;

PATENT OFFIOE.

FRANK IV. PENNELL, OF LIMA, OHIO, ASSIG-NOR OF TVVO-THIRDS-TO ROD- ERICK MORRISON, OF GIBSONBURG, OHIO, ANI) THOMAS C. PENNELL,

OF LIMA, OHIO.

RIG FOR OIL-WELLS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 19, 1905.

T0 all whom, it 11i/ty con/cern:

Be it known that I, FRANK W. PENNELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lima, in the county of Allen and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Rigs for Oil-/Vells, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a portable rig for pulling oil-wells; and the purpose of the invention is to provide a simple structure portably disposed on rotatable elements or wheels in such manner that the rig proper or derrickframe when lowered will have the weight equally distributed on opposite sides of the rotatable element, and, further, when it is desired to elevate the rig proper or derrickframe the base end, or that end which contacts with the ground-surface, maybe lowered to the latter and hold the. longer part of the rig proper or derrick-frame on the opposite side of the rotatable elements or means for rendering the entire device portable at an elevation above the ground surface, and thereby facilitate the erection of the rig proper to operative position by materially decreasing the weight resistance on the draft-animals or motive medium employed for such erection.

A further advantage of the invention is that the rig proper or derrick-frame is equipped with winding means for operating the hoisting or lowering cable and checking and incidental draft devices, the hoisting and lowering cable and the drum having structural features coperating therewith and forming a part thereof for regulating the power in accordance with the weight of the rods or pipes with which they engage. The rig has been especially devised for pulling the rods or pipes of oil-wells; but it will be understood that it is equally well adapted and will be used for lowering said rods or pipes into wells.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a transverse vertical section of a rig embodying the features of the invention and shown in erect position. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same in erect position. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the rig lowered and ready for transportation or in the position it occupies previous to erecting the saine. Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the rig in lowered position. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of one form of rod or tube grapple or holder used in connection with the rig. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of the upper end of a rod or tube, showing the formation thereof for engagement by the grapple or holder illustrated by Fig. 5.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts in the several views.

The rig proper or derrick-frame'comprises tapering side sections 1 and 2, consisting7 preferably, of continuous beams of suitable dimensions which have a maximum divergence at the terminals thereof located adjacent to the ground-surface when the frame is erected and connected at intervals by transverse braces or ties 3 and 4. To the diverged ends of the sections or beams 1 and 2 are secured transverse strips 6, which are spaced apart from each other, as clearly shown by Fig. 1, and are of such dimensions as to `provide a stable support for the frame when erected in conjunction with stakes or analogous holding devices driven therebetween at intervals, preferably located between the outer terminals of the said strips. The strips 6 may be properly termed sills which unitedly form a base for the frame, and irnmediately above the same, inside of the sections or beams l and 2, auxiliary shapingpieces 7 are secured and taper gradually from their thick ends near the base toward their opposite ends, the purpose of these shapingpieces being to square the space between the ends of the sections or beams 1 and 2 adjacent to the base for the practical application therebetween of a drum 8. This drum 8 has a series of winding portions 9, 10, 11, and 12 of different diameters to regulate the power required to control the weight of the rods or pipes attached to the hoisting and lowering cable or analogous device 1 3, cooperating with the winding portion 9 of the said drum. rI`he cable V13 passes through a guide 14a at the reduced terminal of the frame and over a pulley 15a, held between the converged ends of the sections or beams 1 and 2, and then downwardly to the portion 9 of the drum, a drumactuating cable 13a when the rig is in use being projected rearwardly from at least one of the remaining winding portions of the drum for the attachment thereto of draft-animals or a mechanical motive mechanism.

It will be understood that various forms of drums could be employed in connection with the frame without in the least modifying the features of the invention; but it is preferred that`the form of drum set forth be used and IOS v ameter, as the operation and attending con ditions may require, in consonance with the increase or decrease in weight imposed on the end of the cable connecting directly with the well rods or tubes. The drum is also equipped at one side with a band-brake 16, operated by a crank extremity 17, connected to or forming part of a band-bar 18, projecting along one side of the frame to manually control the lowering of the cable 13, the cable 13aL in this operation running loose. In addition to the operation of the drum by means of draft-animals or mechanical motive power in raising or lowering the cable theshaft 19 of said drum is extended past one of the sections or beams and its end formed angular in cross-section to receive a crank-handle 20, and by this means the said drum may be manually operated in pursuing certain operations or in cooperating with wells where a manual actuation of the drum is necessary.

The hoisting and lowering cable 13 is adapte ed to be used in either one of two ways. It can pass straight downwardly from the pulley or sheave 15a and be connected to the pipe or other device to be elevated thereby, or, if additional power is desired, said cable may be doubled, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1, the free end of the cable under such arrangement being attached to a hook or analogous device 21,secured to the converged end of the Y l derrick-frame on the side opposite the guide 14a, or that sidewhich constitutes the rear of the frame when the latter is in erect position. lPrevious to theattachment of the end of the cableto the hook 21 ablock 22 of suitable na- Y ture is arranged on the cables, and the means for attaching the rod or pipe end to the cable is connected to said block.

A grapple or holding device 23 (shown in detail by Fig. 5) is connected to the end of the cable 13 or to the block 22, as the case maybe,

and said grapple is provided with a longitudinally-slotted slip-head 24 ,pivotally supp orted by a suspending-yoke 25, the latter having a finger 25EL to enter the slot when the yoke is arranged vertically to hold the rod or pipe end in the head and prevent accidental disengagement of the rod or pipe. The ends of each rod-section, as shown by Fig. 6, are angularly recessed, as at 26, to correspond to the slot in the head 24, and the latter is slipped over the said reduced' end of the successive rods, and in the operation of lowering the rods into a well when the head 24 rests on the upper curbing or casing projecting above the ground it holds the rod with which it is connected against further depression until -released. Under such conditions it will be obvious that considerable weight is imposed on the head 24, and such weight will resist ordinary manual efforts to Withdraw the head after another rod-section is coupled on the projecting end of that which has been lowered into the well. It will be necessary to release the head, and for this purpose a preferred attachment is employed to elevate the cable 13 slightly without actuating the drum. This attachment is in the form of akinker and comprises an angular shaft 27, terminally held between the sections or beams 1 and 2 above the drum and having a handle 28 secured to one extremity thereof. Slidably mounted on the shaft 27 is a carrier 29, having grooved pulleys or sheaves 30 rotatably held in the opposite terminals thereof and over and between or through which the cable 13 is passed or threaded, said cable being brought to bear against the front portion of the upper pulley 30 and downwardly over the rear portion of the lower similar pulley. By pressing downwardly on the handle 28 the shaft 27 will be rotated to throw the carrie-r 29 and the pulleys 30, carried thereby, forwardly and kink the cable to such an extent as to pull upwardly on the extremity thereof attached to the rod length or section and raise it and that below to which it is secured and release the grapple or holding device 23, which has been supporting the rod length previously lowered in the well. After this operation the kinker returns to normal position by the stress on the cable. When the derrick-frame or rig is erected, as Vshown by Figs. 1 and 2, guy-cables 31 or the like, attached to the rear side of the upper reduced terminal thereof, are drawn taut and attached at their lower terminals to stakes or other analogous devices, the said lower terminals being in the form of adjustable chain lengths 32. To facilitate raising the rig or frame to an upright position, a draft-cable 33 is attached to the center of the side of the reduced upper end opposite that to which the guy-cables are secured and has a pulley 33a at its lower extremity,through which a pull-cable or other analogous device 34 is passed and attached to a doubletree, to which draft-animals maybe hitched or other motive means may be employed for this purpose. After the rig or frame is properly erected the pull-cable 34 is attached to a stake or the like, and the elevating or draft cable 33 then becomes a guy acting in opposition to the guide-cables 31.

One of the most essential features of the invention is the application thereto of a bolster 35 on the side to which the guy-cables 31 are secured and at a point between the ends of the sections or beams 1 and 2, the said bolster supporting an axle 36, having wheels 37 rotatable on the opposite terminals, the said bol- IOO TIO

ISO

ster, axle, and wheels having suitable braces 38 connecting therewith and the adjacent portions of the frame and'constituting a truck in permanent engagement with the derrick. The bolster 35 is projected at such distance from the sections or beams 1 and 2 as to effect a balanced structure when the rig or frame is lowered. The truck is located much nearer the diverged ends of the sections or beams l and 2 than the opposite converged ends thereof; but the weight of the entire derrick structure is equally distributed on opposite sides of the truck to materially assist in transporting or moving the complete device from one well to another. drawn by draft-animals, which are hitched thereto, and attached to the center of the lower portion of the bolster 35 is a draft rod, cable, or analogous device 39, having its opposite extremity loosely held in an eye 40, carried by a projecting yoke 41, attached. to the sections or beams l and 2 a proper' distance from the truck. The draft rod, cable, or analogous device 39 terminates in a hook 42, to which a doubletree 43 is secured, and is ofsuch length as to locate swingletrees thereon outside of the opposite sections or beams l and 2, said doubletree being detachable and used in connection with the cables 33 in erecting the derrick and also the rearwardly-proj ecting portion of the cable 13@L for operating the drum. Cooperating with the doubletree is a neck-yoke 45, which is detachably connected to a hook 46 on the reduced extremity of the rig or derrick-frame adjacent to the guide 14a. Vhen the rig or derrick-frame is erected, this neck-yoke is detached from the hook 46.

As before noted, the truck is so applied to the rig or truck-frame that the latter is balanced when lowered to ease the movement thereof by draft-animals without imposing excessive weight on such animals. vWhen the shorter portion of the rig or derrickframe between the truck and the sills is lowered to the ground or inclined with respect to the wheels 37, acting as fulcrums, the longer portion of the said rig or derrick-frame is held elevated, and this is facilitated by the disposition of the working parts, including the drum in the rig or derrick between the truck and the sills 6. Then the sills 6 are placed on the ground prior to elevating or erecting the rig or derricl-frame, as shown by Fig. 5, the longer portion of the rig or derrick is held at a considerable elevation and the draft-animals or other elevating medium will be relieved of considerable weight resistance, and, further, the rig will be more expeditiously erected.

It will be therefore understood that byholding the axle 36 at a considerable distance from the sections or beams l and 2 by the bolster 35 or other analogous means it'is materially important from a structural stand- The rig as an entirety is point in effecting the balance of the rig structure when lowered and also in elevating the greater portion of the rig proper or derrickframe just previous to the erection of the latter to operative position. 7o

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the rig can be readily backed up to the point of application adjacent to a well and quickly erected and held in operative position, and when the work at such well is com- 7 5 pleted the rig can be quickly lowered and readily moved to another well. Vhen the rig is lowered, the guy and lifting cables are thrown over onto the frame and loosely secured, so they can be readily unfast'ened and 8o used for their intended purpose without delay. The main advantage of the presenta/a form of rig is that it overcomes the expense of individual structures adjacent to each well to perform the work for which this device is 8 5 adapted. It will be understood also that changes in the proportions, dimensions, and minor details may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what 9o I claim as new is- 1. In a device of the class set forth, the combination of a rig or derrick-frame consisting of members converging toward one end, a drum disposed in the diverged extremity of the rig or derrick-frame, a pulley carried in the converged extremity of said frame, a hoisting and lowering cable cooperating with the drum and passing over the pulley, and a liinker device disposed above the drum and 10o having the hoisting and lowering cable passed therethrough, the kinker device being automatically slidable in a transverse direction with respect to the rig or derricli-frame and longitudinally over the drum. 1o 5 2. In a device of the class set forth, the combination of a rig or derrick-frame, a drum disposed in one extremity of the frame and having a reduced extremity provided with means for manually operating the drum and 1 ro also withwinding-surfaces of different diameters, an actuating-cable engaging one end of the drum and operative by power other than manual, an elevating and lowering cable engaging the winding-surfaces of the drum hav- 1 1 5 ing different diameters and movable over the end of the frame opposite that in which the drum is located, and a kinker device having the elevating and lowering cable passed therethrough and located above the drum for im- 12o parting to said cable an elevating movement without operating the drum, the lrinker de- Vice being automatically adjustable over the drum to compensate for the position of the cable with respect to the latter. r 2 5 3. In a device of the class set forth, the combination of a rig or derrick-frame converged toward one extremity of the frame, an elevating and lowering cable over the reduced extremity of the frame and operating 13o With the drum, and a kinlrer automatically.

slidable With relation to the longitudinal eX- tent of the drum and having means engaging separate portions of the cable for causing the latter, When pressure is applied in the proper direction, to have an elevating movement independent of the operation ofthe drum.

4. In a device of the class set forth, the

. combination of a rig or derrick-frame, a drum disposed in one extremity of the frame, an elevating and lowering cable movable over the opposite extremity of the frame and operating with the drum, and a kinker attachment adjacent to the drum comprising an angular shaft having a handle, and a carrier slidably mounted on the shaft having roller devices in the extremities thereoil for engagement With the cable.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of tWo subscribing Witnesses.

FRANK W. PENNELL.

l/Vitnesses:

VVILLIs H. PEATE, D. J. CABLE. 

